I always end up paying for rand repair so it ends up costing 40 plus with shipping and everything. Even with a good resole the shoes rarely climb the same and the non rubber parts of the shoes can start breaking down with age and then there inevitable stretch and sloppiness. Sometimes I wonder whether or not it is best to just buy new, cheap shoes more often.

If climbing in cheap shoes works for you, that's fine. When I get a pair of shoes I like (not cheap), I want to keep using them. Once I get them resoled, they're a little tighter for a while, but then they stretch back to their old feel. And resoling is way cheaper than buying another pair of climbing shoes, for me.

To me it's worth it. I just threw out my first pair of TC Pros after about 3 years, many resoles, and some Shoe Goo. They were pretty stretched out by the time I threw them away, but I don't climb any better in my new ones.

Yes, yes it is. You have to be a little diligent about getting them fixed before you get into the rand, but if you have the number for Rock and Resole, they do an incredible job. Supposedly some guy named Locker on here does a pretty good job as well. Positive Resoles is the name of his outfit. If you like expensive shoes, which I do, resoling is the way to go.

absolutely! even if you bust through the rand a little bit it's worth it. I got two pairs at the same time resoled and it was around $100 all said and done. I was kinda bummed that it was so much then just today i realized how many pitches i've done in just the first pair. Pair #2 is still sittin in the closet...waiting to send!

I've now spent a month without my shoes, which is okay but the guys at cascade arent returning my emails or calls, IF i get my shoes back they better be flawless, otherwise i think i'll save myself the frustration, and just suck it up and buy new.

I've now spent a month without my shoes, which is okay but the guys at cascade arent returning my emails or calls, IF i get my shoes back they better be flawless, otherwise i think i'll save myself the frustration, and just suck it up and buy new.

Do people find that resoled shoes climb the same? Maybe its in my head. Jim

Depends on the shoe/rubber you prefer/any number of other variables. I've found for really downturned shoe's it's rare that a resoled pair climbs exactly like a new pair. This isnt always a bad thing, I wasnt totally sold on the solutions until i got mine resoled with stealth, now I love them, I think those shoes climb better after being smashed out and then resoled with stealth.

In response to the original question, I think it's almost always worth it to resole shoes. There is no reason to keep shoes you dont love (with the availability of trading/selling used/getting deals) and thus no reason to not resole, at least not at the level I'm climbing.

I have wondered if resoling was worth it for a long time and tried to have a pair of TC pros resoled last year. I decided to try yosimitebum for the resole and they really did a poor job. The reshaped the shoes into a down turned shoe which compressed my toe nails and made the shoes unwearable and replaced the rands which really did not need to be replaced.

So now what? I am already into the process for $45 for the resole $10 for their shipping cost and another $10 for my shipping costs. That is $65 for a pair of unusable shoes. Should I pay another $10 to ship them back and get them to fix their work? Do I have confidence they can fix their work? Do I have confidence that any vendor is not going to do a poor job? I decided to cut my looses, learn my lesson and bought new.

There is no way resoling makes sense for cheap shoes. Perhaps if I lived near a resoler and did not have to pay shipping and could check the work before paying?

Order some Flat Rate PADDED Envelops from USPS (it's free to order them). I use size 11/12 shoes and they fit inside perfectly but only costs ~$5.70 to ship whatever fits. That should at least save you a couple bucks!

I have wondered if resoling was worth it for a long time and tried to have a pair of TC pros resoled last year. I decided to try yosimitebum for the resole and they really did a poor job.?

There's your problem, sending Sportiva shoes to Evolv. They don't seem to have the molds to fit other brand's shoes. I tried them once and won't ever send Sportiva/Scarpa shoes to them again.

I'd say if you ever have any doubts about Sportiva resole (espeically new models), send them to Rock & Resole. Not that others can't do a good job, but R&R would have the most experience of them all (helps having Sportiva NA a few blocks away and Boulder having the highest concentration of Sportiva sponsored climbers in the US).

My first pair of Miuras are on their 3rd resole and my second pair is now on their 1st resole. They'll probably need another resole in another couple months, and I won't hesitate. Worst-case scenario a resole is about $50 (though about half that if you don't need the rand) while MSRP on Miuras is $160 right now. It's a pretty significant savings.

As for performance, I guess I've never really done a new vs resoled comparison, but I've never gotten them back and thought "wow, these aren't very good". I get them done through Rock and Resole in Boulder and they come back fitting basically the same as when I sent them. They also glue up any delamination that La Sportiva shoes have problems with from the factory.

If the cheap shoes work for you then go ahead, but I'd much rather find a pair of shoes that I LOVE and resole them until they fall apart.

I currently use Sportiva Testarossa's which for some reason have jumped WAY! up in price in the last year; last I saw they retail at $175 a pair.

I get my shoes done at Rock and Resole usually send in about 6 pairs at a time. I think last time I did this it cost me around $120 including shipping back. Thats only $20 per pair. Rock and Resole does an amazing job, they get the downturn/cup thingy perfect, they are just like factory new ones.

You do the math $175 per pair or $20 per pair. When you go through shoes every 3 months it starts to add up really quick.

Some of the numbers being thrown around are a little skewed. What climber pays MSRP!? And when I say cheap shoes I mean shoes bought on the cheap not crappy shoes. With a little looking I just bought a pair of verde's new for 80 bucks. A good deal certainly but one you can find if you keep your eye out.

If you can get a good shoe for 80 bucks, is it worth it to get it resoled for 40+? I think it really depends on the shoe and what you plan to do with it.

I'm realize I am really in the minority here but . . . Some of the numbers being thrown around are a little skewed. What climber pays MSRP!? And when I say cheap shoes I mean shoes bought on the cheap not crappy shoes. With a little looking I just bought a pair of verde's new for 80 bucks. A good deal certainly but one you can find if you keep your eye out. If you can get a good shoe for 80 bucks, is it worth it to get it resoled for 40+? I think it really depends on the shoe and what you plan to do with it. JIm

As you say in your OP, not exactly a green approach. Also, when I really think about it I'm not sure I've ever thought "oh man, I would've sent if only I had fresh kicks, not these resoled jobs!"

As an aside: what size shoe do you wear? I'll gladly pay shipping on your kicks not slated for resole if they fit me!

Some of the numbers being thrown around are a little skewed. What climber pays MSRP!?

Fine, you got me, I usually don't pay MSRP. However, for popular shoes, 20% is often the best you can do. I haven't seen Miuras cheaper than around $125 in a very long time. I waited for about a year before realizing that a 20% off REI coupon was the best I could find for my TC Pros (ended up paying $144).

jim.dangle wrote:

And when I say cheap shoes I mean shoes bought on the cheap not crappy shoes. With a little looking I just bought a pair of verde's new for 80 bucks.

50% off discounts are the exception, not the rule. When people say "cheap" shoe, they're talking about one with a low MSRP, not one that you just happened to find at 50% off. I'd guess that most shoes with a sub-$100 MSRP are considered entry-level or "crappy" by many advanced climbers.

Either way, I would rather pay MSRP for a pair of Miuras than $80 for any other pair of shoes. Why? Because I love Miuras. I've tried quite a few different shoes and, for my feet and climbing style, anything but Miuras are "crappier". Many people have the same sort of relationship with their shoes. There's a reason some shoes are still insanely popular despite high (and increasing) prices.

jim.dangle wrote:

Even with a good resole the shoes rarely climb the same and the non rubber parts of the shoes can start breaking down with age and then there inevitable stretch and sloppiness.

My Miuras are 5 years old and on their 4th (maybe even 5th, actually) soles. Even after a resole I prefer them to any other shoe. The leather is faded, but beyond that the shoes are in great shape. If your shoes are falling apart after one resole, perhaps you are in fact buying "cheap" shoes. And if the resole is that shitty, perhaps try a different resole company?

jim.dangle wrote:

If you can get a good shoe for 80 bucks, is it worth it to get it resoled for 40+? I think it really depends on the shoe and what you plan to do with it.

If I could buy a pair of Miuras for $80 I would in a heartbeat. But I can't...so I have them resoled.

jim.dangle wrote:

I always end up paying for rand repair so it ends up costing 40 plus with shipping and everything.

Yes resoling is worth it but I understand your reservations. I resoled a pair of LS Taos probably 18 years ago and got them back to find the sick pointed toe was round and clumsy. Not sure which company this was. A few years ago I sent in my favorite shoes some slip-on Scarpas to Yosemite Bums. I was told they would last two weeks with a resole they were so worn. Only recently did I resole again, this time successfully with Rock n Resole. As advised by Yosemite Bums I sent my LS Testarossas in before the rand got messed up. Rock n Resole did an excellent job retaining down turn and pointed toe without touching rand. They are still super tight and perform great. I will resole again.